Internal IT threats to small business

With all the hacking virus threats we see in the news feeds today, internal threats seem to have fallen off the list of priorities for many business owners. If you watch industry development trends and recent studies on insider threats, many companies are unaware of or underestimate corporate data leaks – the most dangerous threat to IT security today. Internal threats may come in many forms, from a careless internet use to a disgruntled employee gone rogue. Understanding where and how vulnerabilities present themselves can help your business be more vigilant when it comes to data security and network integrity.

Companies are vulnerable to internal threat

57% of companies view employees as the most likely source of a breach.

On average 67% of security incidents at financial firms and at product/manufacturing companies involved a current or former staff member.

30% of breaches by employees were targeting data to start their own competing company

65% of breaches by employees were done to help secure employment with a competitor.

41% of security incidents at financial firms were attributed to third parties with trusted access

Security deficiencies are a major contributor to vulnerabilities

33% companies do not have a written information security policy (WISP),

How to minimize common malicious internal IT treat

It is possible to improve the availability of your business computer network for all users and provide better security and data usage confidentiality. No measure is 100% bulletproof, but the measures outlined below can lessen the threats and problems associated with end users.

Separate duties

Adhere to employee exit procedures

Perform background checks

Screen outbound email

Screen internet activity

Implement tripwire programs

Not all internal threat is malicious

As we have seen from statistics above, some security risks come from knowingly abusing user privileges, accessing and misusing data. However, it is important to remember that even the best of us an our employees can present a security threat simply by not realizing we are doing something wrong, such as accidentally deleting strategic files, or connecting a corrupted device to the computer network. A set of rules needs to be set i n place on just to minimize malicious, but also to prevent unintentional breaches or data loss.

What to consider in order to minimize common non-malicious internal IT threats:

Data Input

Many companies and industries must rely on data input when it comes to database-driven software. Some custom applications may be more vulnerable to incidents that may be caused by typos or erroneous data entry than big-box brand name software.
In order to provide sufficient protection for the data on a secure network while legally protecting the company, several steps must be taken.

Physical location security

Location restrictions

Wire Management

Configuration Management

In conclusion, while the mainstream and social media are overflowing with reports of hackers exploiting various weaknesses and gaining access to networks in order to exploit data, most IT professionals prioritize securing their computer network against outside threats. At the same time many business owners underestimate the need for securing network resources against the internal, legitimate users, people in the direct position to do compromise a network, intentionally or not.

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